THE FLOBA OF THE NOBTHEEN TEEEITOEY. 6 



poisonous species, but apparently none from the Ter^itor3^ Rhynchosia 

 minima is, however, poisonous according to Greshoff, and the same may be 

 found ultimately to apply to some of the species of Swainsona and Tephrosia. 

 Several species of the latter genus are well-known fish poisons, and this apphes 

 to at least one species from the Territory, namely, Tephrosia purpurea. In this 

 direction there will be much work to be done in the future. 



By following the distribution of the flora along the route taken by the 

 Barclay Expedition, it is possible to pick out the most fertile and the best 

 grazing parts. Included also is a map, illustrating the route taken by the 

 Expedition, and showing the camping places with the more important plants 

 collected at each. 



B:EY to the AUSTRALIAN NATURAL ORDERS. 



{See pp. 5-18.) 



In the following key, the initial letter of an order in which any given 

 character occurs is put in the square corresponding to the order and the 

 character ; but unless specified the character need not be constant in the order. 

 When a character is only rarely present the initial letter is in itahcs. 



Thus taking the first line Ranunculaceae, the key indicates that this order 

 comprises Herbs and Climbers, but not trees, shrubs or undershnibs, that the 

 leaves may be opposite or alternate, but not whorled, that stipules are only 

 very rarely present, that bracts are wanting although rarely an involucre is 

 present, etc., etc. 



It frequently happens that specimens are received which are so imperfect 

 that they cannot be referred readily to their natural order. Suppose a leafy 

 branch with scattered bundles in the stem and compound leaves were received 

 with a collector's note, " over 30 feet high. Young flowers enclosed by a large 

 bract." The scattered bundles restrict it to Monocotyledons. Over 30 feet, 

 restricts it to Liliaoese, Palmse, Pandaneae, or Graminese. Compound leaves 

 restrict it to Palmse, or Graminese (Bamboos), and the bract confines it to 

 Palmse. 



The keys for the genera and species are based upon those of Bentham's 

 " Flora AustraHensis" ; such alterations having been made as were necessary 

 for new nomenclature, altered classification, and new species. 



